Landscape Management articles from November 2004

Landscape Management archives from November 2004

The case for online marketing: why not offer potential customers a chance to find you and learn of your services at the touch of a few key strokes?(Reaching Prospects)
November 1, 2004... Across the country, people are discovering the unbeatable advantages of turning to their computers at home or at work and using online Yellow Pages to search for local business services of all types, including landscape contractors. If...

Service beyond 'just a job'.(On the record: from the boss)
November 1, 2004... Meet Harold. He understands the meaning of service--willing, cheerful service. He's an example that we're all here for one reason, as well: to serve. I met Harold for maybe 15 minutes in August. I'll probably never meet him again, but I...

Growth: good or bad? As long as the gross margins are good, you can add customers without adding overhead and watch much of that gross margin fall to the bottom line.(Best practices: tracking results)
November 1, 2004... In what ways does growth help profitability? Growth can help your profitability by adding necessary gross margin to cover overhead. As long as the gross margins are good, you can add customers without adding overhead and watch as much of that...

'Grizzly' Green industry encounter.(In the know: news you can use)
November 1, 2004... JACKSON HOLE, WY -- Three well-known landscape pros, a veteran hunting guide and an enraged female grizzly bear came together in a near-tragic high country confrontation in late September. In the end, the guide was mauled by the bear, but it's...

The Associated Landscape Contractors of America.(People & companies)(Debra Holder resigns)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) announced that Debra Holder has resigned as chief executive officer. In her 25 year tenure, Holder grew ALCA from a small association to a respected powerhouse. She will remain on staff...

Komatsu Zenoah's Strato-Charged engine, which powers many RedMax products, took the top honor at GaLaBeau 2004.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Komatsu Zenoah's Strato-Charged engine, which powers many RedMax products, took the top honor at GaLaBeau 2004, a major European landscape trade show.

The Tree Care Industry Association (formerly the National Arborist Association) received a federal grant in the amount of $197,566.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Tree Care Industry Association (formerly the National Arborist Association) received a federal grant in the amount of $197,566 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Toro Company.(People & companies)(appointment of Michael J. Hoffman )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The Toro Company elected Michael J. Hoffman to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer.

Autumn Tree Care Experts, Inc.(People & companies)(appointment of Jim Matkovich )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Autumn Tree Care Experts, Inc., appointed Jim Matkovich to its team of ISA certified arborists.

Turfgrass Producers International.(People & companies)(retirement of Doug Fender)(appointment of Fredrick Hall)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Turfgrass Producers International announced that Executive Director Doug Fender has retired. K-Rain Manufacturing Corporation ("K-Rain") hired Fredrick "Rick" Hall as Technical Services Manager.

Aquatrols.(People & companies)(appointment of Patrick Herridge )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Aquatrols appointed Patrick "Fuzz" Herridge as South Central Territory Manager.

Zaretsky and Associates, Inc. of Rochester, NY, has been certified as an Official Wildlife Habitat.(People & companies)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Zaretsky and Associates, Inc. of Rochester, NY, has been certified as an Official Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

Toro Irrigation Division.(People & companies)(appointment of Nick Hannappel )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Toro Irrigation Division named Nick Hannappel marketing manager for residential and commercial products and Steve Stephens Director of Marketing.

Aquarius Brands.(People & companies)(Gary Bailey appointed)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Aquarius Brands appointed Gary Bailey vice president of sales and marketing.

Taiwan battles fire ants.(In the know: news you can use)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... TAIPEI CITY, TAIWAN -- High-ranking government officials here launched a three-year plan to stop the speedy spread of red imported fire ants. The fire ants were discovered in the city late this summer. Residents, whose fears have been...

Take this survey; help your industry.(Clippings)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA -- Everybody knows Green Industry consultant Kevin Kehoe is good with the numbers. But now he needs landscape contractors' help to continue to provide good statistical information to help them understand their businesses...

DLF starts Green Leaf Landscaping.(Clippings)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VERO BEACH, FL -- DLF International, Inc., a citrus export company, announced the grand opening of Green Leaf Landscaping, Gardening and Nursery, LLC. CEO Douglas Feek stated "We see the growing need to provide professional landscaping and...

Clintar acquires Greenspace.(Clippings)(Clintar Groundskeeping Services )(Greenspace Commercial Services)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Clintar Groundskeeping Services acquired Greenspace Commercial Services of Oakville, Ontario. Greenspace Commercial was part of Greenspace Services, which included ChemLawn and The Natural Alternative residential services, recently acquired by...

Echo: two-stroke 'alive and well'.(In the know: news you can use)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... LOUISVILLE, KY -- Don't bury the two-stroke engine. It's alive and well, even in the face of much stricter emissions regulations on the horizon. So said Joe Fahey of power equipment maker Echo, Inc., at a press conference at the recent OPEI...

Partnership forms SynaTek.(Clippings)(Willar AgriService)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SOUDERTON, PA -- The Plant Nutrients Division of Moyer & Son and Willar AgriService of Frederick, MD have partnered to form SynaTek, a provider of fertigation, water quality and other products to the golf and turf & ornamental markets....

Yanmar settles lawsuit.(Clippings)(Yanmar Company, Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... BUFFALO GROVE, IL -- Yanmar Company, Ltd. of Japan and its IL-based subsidiary, Yanmar America Corp., announced a settlement of a suit involving the alleged illegal importation of used "gray market" Yanmar tractors. The suit was filed against...

U.S. Lawns grows; now in 27 states.(Clippings)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ORLANDO -- U.S. Lawns numbers more than 130 franchised offices operating in 27 states across the United States. Recently opened offices include: Ashville, NC, Robin & Donna Smith; Dothan, AL, Peter & Sheryl Toro; Louisville, KY, Adam Neville;...

Husqvarna sponsors 2004 Capitol Holiday Tree.(In the know: news you can use)(United States Capitol Building)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Husqvarna will serve as an official sponsor of the 2004 Capitol Holiday Tree, which will decorate the front lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. This is the fifth consecutive year Husqvarna has been chosen as...

All in the family: bringing family members into your business can reap rewards, but watch out for the pitfalls.(Making It Work)
November 1, 2004... Daryle Johnson is CEO of All American Turf Beauty in Van Meter, IA. He co-founded the company with his wife in 1976. Starting out, he collected no salary and paid his kids half a cent for each advertising flyer they delivered. Today, the...

Are you ready for online learning? How savvy managers can get maximum benefit from new technology.(Skill Building Opportunity)
November 1, 2004... When you've spent a hard day supervising several ongoing projects or teams, the final thing you might do before going home is check e-mail or your financial books. Imagine then, instead of shutting off your computer, you take a few more minutes...

'04 People of the year.(Seeing The Bigger Picture)(Sam Lang; Milton Hallman)
November 1, 2004... Sam Lang LAWN CARE BY RON HALL / Editor-in-Chief Sandersville is a nice enough place but little more than a wide spot in the road between Macon and Augusta in central Georgia. A young Sam Lang knew he wasn't going to stick around....

Making managers: are you "grooming" your Hispanic/Latino employees to be your top managers of the future?(Your Next Leaders)
November 1, 2004... Picture yourself in this position: It's 20 years down the road, and you're ready to retire. Your children--now all adults--are settled in non-Green Industry careers. Who will take over your landscape or commercial lawn care business? Who are...

Mark & Cory Lay: AA Tex Lawn Co., Inc.(Inside the owner's head: he's not heavy, he's ...)(Mary Lay)(interview)(Interview)
November 1, 2004... Mark and Cory Lay own AA Tex Lawn Co., Inc., a $900,000 full-service landscape company located in Indian Trail, NC, that has been in business for 25 years. The company focuses on commercial maintenance (100%), with 60% being contracted work and...

Grass-eatin' spider.(Innovations: hot new products)
November 1, 2004... 1 Grass-eatin' spider The Jacobsen Spider ILD-1 Radio-Controlled Cutter attracted crowds at this year's Outdoor Power Equipment Expo in Louisville. The Spider mows slopes up to 40[degrees], depending upon conditions. An operator uses radio...

Load and lock.(Innovations: hot new products)
November 1, 2004... 2 Load and lock Worried about your commercial mowers bouncing around on the back of your trailers? This device, the Prolocker wheel lock, that we saw demonstrated at the Expo in Louisville can solve that problem. You won't need chains,...

Flail like a fanatic.(Innovations: hot new products)
November 1, 2004... 3 Flail like a fanatic US Mower's 40-in. Samauri excavator mower is a new direct-drive flail mower attachment designed and built specifically for compact excavators with as little as 13 gpm auxiliary flow. It features T-1 high strength...

Spread the love.(Innovations: hot new products)
November 1, 2004... 4 Spread the love Perma Green Supreme's Ride-On Magnum spreader features a Honda engine with built-in wet clutch, heavy-duty transmission, 150-lb. capacity hopper and 12-gal. spray tank. It also sports a larger 2-GPM pump and an improved...

Shop techs going cyber: parts diagrams and service manuals are out on the Internet and even burned on CDs just waiting for you. Knowledge is truly power.(From the shop: instant information)
November 1, 2004... As an old-time parts guy from the dark ages (the mid 70s), I grew up on paper and microfiche manuals and parts lists. There's something about the feel of a paper manual that's reassuring. You can make notes, comments and reminders on paper....

Over the airwaves: going from wired to radio-controlled made irrigation a practical solution at Highlands Ranch.(satellite control systems)
November 1, 2004... Highlands Ranch, CO, is a 22,000-acre master planned community conceived and developed to provide an exceptional quality of life. Located 12 miles south of Denver, it features new neighborhoods of beautiful homes and apartments within an...

Hurricane cleanup tools.(LM reports: your guide to product research)
November 1, 2004... Bobcat [eth] The Bobcat V518 telescopic tool carrier with grapple attachment efficiently handles and places debris. The tool carrier combines the speed, agility and strength of a skid-steer loader with the extended reach of a forklift. The...

Landscape irrigation at crossroads: ASIC members poised to help the Green Industry meet growing irrigation challenges.(Expert Advice)(American Society of Irrigation Consultants)
November 1, 2004... Over the past 20 years, landscape irrigation has evolved from a luxury to a necessity... and for many good reasons. During this time, every region of the United States has had to learn the harsh realities of drought conditions. As a result,...

What a 'Kino' idea: Tucson sports park reduces water costs 90% by harvesting and reusing storm water.(Conserving Water)(Kino Sports Complex)
November 1, 2004... A sports stadium in the Arizona desert irrigates nine pristine baseball fields and part of the surrounding neighborhood at less than a tenth of the cost it used to pay. It does this without drawing a single drop of potable water from the county...

Lubbers Stadium: 2003 PGMS honor award winner for park, recreation area or athletic field.(PGMS: award-winning landscape management)
November 1, 2004... Grand Valley State University's Lubbers Stadium was a sight to behold when it was completed in the summer of 1979. But excessive wear took its toll, and the field was completely re-sodded in 2001. Maintaining the field during the snowy...

Cut it up.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... Deere Pro-Series chain saws are designed for easy use, low vibration and aggressive torque at all speeds. Four in the series boast power-to-weight ratios that are among the best in class: CS56 and CS62 heavy-duty professional saws and CS71 and...

Spread it out.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... Lanco Manufacturing introduces its new LS1750 fertilizer spreader with a 5-ton capacity, 11-gauge stainless steel hopper. The use of non-corrosive #304 stainless steel in the hopper, web conveyor, dual spinners, and mid and rear cross members...

Tear it to shreds.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... Shredding organic waste is simplified with the Bobcat brush chipper attachment, which is approved for skid-steer loaders, compact track loaders, all-wheel steer loaders, and the Toolcat 5600 utility work machine. It has excellent operator...

Let it snow.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... Sidewing Snowplows brings the proven benefits of wing plows to your pickup or light-duty dump truck. The newest model 345 OSL moves up to 12 ft. of snow in each pass and clears a 2-lane road with only one pass in each direction. It mounts...

Saw away.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... At only 35.2cc displacement with 2.5 hp, the 352 has a Walbro all-position carburetor and an integrated choke/fast idle interlock mechanism. Comes with inertia chain brake system, dual bar studs, easy pull Sure Start recoil starting system,...

Fast fire ant destroyer.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... DuPont Professional Products says its new Advion Fire Ant Bait controls imported red fire ants within 24 to 72 hours after application. The product (a.i. indoxacarb) received EPA approval in late August. The product's fast action results from...

Throw big snow.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... Upgrades on Ariens Company's Sno-Thro for 2005 line include: 14-in. impeller vs. 12-in. impeller for improved performance. 26-in. vs. 24-in. housing brings in more snow. 12-gauge sides on the housing cut through heavier snow. New heavy-duty XS...

Gravely's new Z.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... Gravely's new 44Z zero-turn mower features a 44-in. cutting width and a 17-hp Kawasaki twin engine. Additional features include a 7-gauge cutting deck with spindle reinforcement, maintenance free spindles, and Hydrogear commercial pumps and...

Dig it.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... Yanmar now offers seven maneuverable, easy-to-transport compact excavators. All models feature true zero-tail swing and left and right boom swing so operators can track adjacent walls. Large dozing blades coupled with Yanmar's VICTAS offset...

Ferris IS 3000ZXL arrives.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... Ferris Industries adds the new IS 3000ZXL, with a 26-hp Kawasaki liquid-cooled V-Twin engine, to its line of mid-size zero-turns. Along with the exclusive 4-wheel IS Independent Suspension (increasing production by as much as 14% over...

Two smaller Cats.(Products: tools of the trade)
November 1, 2004... Caterpillar's new C0.7 and C0.5 models are the two smallest in a family of seven compact engines the company now offers to meet the needs of the rapidly expanding small machinery market. The product range is from 14 to 60 hp at 3600 rpm. The...

Events: what, when & where.(Landscaping industry)(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... November 13-15 Tree Care Industry Expo / Baltimore, MD; 603/314-5380; www.natlarb.com 14-16 International Irrigation Show / Tampa, FL; 703/536-7080; www.irrigation.org 16-18 Turf and Grounds Exposition / Rochester, NY; Sponsored...

Wanted: mo' money, mo' manpower.(Statistics: industry trends by the numbers)(Professional Grounds Management Society surveys its members)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 1, 2004... WANTED: MO' MONEY, MO' MANPOWER The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) recently surveyed its members on everything from staff pay rates to acreage maintained. Here are some interesting numbers from that survey: Avg....

Wisconsin's Green Industry on the up and up.(Statistics: industry trends by the numbers)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 1, 2004... WISCONSIN'S GREEN INDUSTRY ON THE UP AND UP Producer Sector: Receipts by Service Green service Receipts ($) % of total Landscape installation 382,550,000 47 Landscape/lawn/garden 125,790,000 ...

Truck sale forecast.(Statistics: industry trends by the numbers)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 1, 2004... TRUCK SALE FORECAST 2004 sales 2005 sales 2006 sales Medium-duty (classes 5-7) 240,000 260,000 280,000 Commercial (classes 1-3) 2.85 million 2.9 million 2.95 million...

Immigration statistics.(Statistics: industry trends by the numbers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... * 36% of all immigrants were born in North America (16% in Mexico) and 35% were born in Asia * Legal immigration in 2003 (705,827) was lower than in 2002 (1,063,732) * 63% of all immigrants intended to reside in six states:...